This Week in Cubs History – 03/05/06

Greetings from Mesa….I am heading to the park for my last live game of Spring Training. This has been a blast and I hope everyone has enjoyed the photo galleries. Jason is going today as well….so it should be a lot of fun. There will be another photo gallery and recap from today’s game. Most of the news this week has surrounded the upcoming knee surgery for Kerry Wood, but like we have discussed….Don’t Panic. John Mabry and Scott Eyre are also suffering from nagging injuries but nothing major. The Cubs have looked good doing the little things over the first three games; they just need to become more consistent.

This was the week the Cubs signed Andre Dawson, Michael Jordan returned to the Bulls, more rules changes and a little known outfielder made his debut. Enjoy the game on WGN and now into the way back machine….

March 5

1945 – With wartime restrictions still in effect, the Cubs were among seven teams that conducted Spring Training in Indiana
1941 – Dodgers president Larry MacPhail issued instructions that all Dodger players must live in Brooklyn
1916 – The National League meeting announced that ‘some of the diamonds’ did not measure properly. The Cubs pitching distance was brought into question and John Heydler (National League President) ordered an engineer’s certification

March 6

1987 – Andre Dawson (1987-1992) signed a one-year contract with the Cubs for $650,000. Dawson offered to sign a contract with the dollar amount left blank so he could play on the natural grass at Wrigley Field to save his knees. Dawson hit 49 home runs and won the National League MVP Award that season.
1948 – The Braves traded Bama Rowell, Ray Sanders and a reported $60,000 to the Dodgers for Eddie Stanky (1943-1944). This trade opened a spot in the Dodgers infield for Jackie Robinson.
1906 – In his first year as owner of the Cubs, Charles W. Murphy (Owner, 1905-1914) put the finish touch on the Cubs success during the early 20th Century. Murphy traded Hans Lobert (1905) and Jake Weimer (1903-1905) to the Reds for Harry Steinfeldt (1906-1910). Steinfeldt became the third baseman in the famous infield of Tinkers to Evers to Chance.

March 7

1979 – Hack Wilson (1926-1931) was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee
1960 – Joe Carter, born
1893 – In arguably the most significant rule change in Major League History, the National League eliminated the pitching box and added a pitcher’s rubber five feet behind the previous back line of the box and established the modern pitching distance of 60 feet six inches.

March 8

1999 – Joe DiMaggio, died
1971 – Neil Finnell, born

March 9

1963 – Terry Mulholland, born
1965 – Benito Santiago, born
1943 – The Dodgers traded Babe Dahlgren (1941-1942) to the Phillies for Lloyd Waner and Al Glossop (1946)
1922 – Rogers Hornsby (1929-1932, Manager 1930-1932) signed a three-year contract with the Cardinals for $18,500 per season. At the time Hornsby was the highest paid player in National League History.

1933 – Rogers Hornsby (1929-1932, Manager 1930-1932), out of baseball since being fired as the Cubs manager in 1932, joined the Cardinals after a 6-year absence from St. Louis
1933 – During an exhibition game in Los Angeles between the Cubs and Giants, a substantial earthquake occurred. Players from both teams huddled around second base until the tremors stopped.

Maybe, just maybe the Cubs will make some history this week….now Back to the Future